Shiba Kōkan
1740
Tangible Cultural Property, designated by Sakata city
Donated by the Homma family
This piece uses the environs of Ochanomizu in Edo (the former name of Tōkyō) to portray packhorse drivers urging along their horses, geisha walking two aside, and samurai strolling together. The shadows of the trees, which stretch upwards from the embankment on the right side of the image, are striking. The painting also employs Mount Fuji, visible in the center distance, to create its structural composition.
Shiba Kōkan (1747-1818) is known as a Western-style painter, and was the first artist in Japan to successfully produce copperplate etches and he also employed his own distinctive oil paints in his works.